Wheel gang-plow



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W. J. BROWNE. w

WHEEL GANG PLOW. No. 325.783. Patented Sept, 8, 1885;

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N. PFIERS, Phnl0 LhhognpMn Washington. D C- (No Model.) zsh ts-sn et 2.

W. J.. BROWNE.

WHEEL. GANG" PLOW.

Paten ted Sept. 8, 1885.

By Afzarney N. PETERS. Pholoiflhoguphur, Washington. I). c

UNITED STATES PATENT Utmos WILLIAM JEROME BROWNE, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA.

WHEEL GANG-PLOW.

BPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,783, dated September 8, 1885.

Application filed April 2, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM JEROME BROWNE, of Fort Madison, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheel Gang- Plows; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. i

It is the object of my invention to provide a gang-plow in which the depth of the furrows and the vertical adjustment of the wheels is accomplished by the use of one set of adjusting devices, in which the same movement that regulates the draft of the plows automatically adjusts the position of the wheels.

Figure 1 is aside elevation of my invention, showing the nigh wheel removed. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail view. i Y

In the drawings, A A represent the plowbeams, the left-hand one being shorter than the right, and both being curved at their rear ends to form the standards of the plows B B. The forward ends of the beams A are similarly turned downward and provided with a series of holes, a a, through which the pintle b passes to provide means for hanging the clevis G. This clevis consists of a transverse plate having a series of holes in it which have knuckles projecting to the rear from its ends that are journaled next the ends of said beams on pintle I). These plow beams are maintained in their relative positions by suitable cross-bars, as shown in Fig. 2.

Secured to the plow-beams, and projecting downward therefrom in corresponding positions, are the bearings c c, in which the axletree D is journaled. Bearings c 0 have elongated bolt-holes through which the bolts securing them to the beam A pass, and by. means of which they can be adjusted longitudinally on the beams to increase or decrease the draft.

i I On that end of the axle-tree D contiguous to the shortest plow-beam is an arm, d, pursuing a lateral or an oblique course from said axletree. It is provided with a stud or spindle projecting laterally, or in a direction parallel to the axle-tree, on which is journaled the furrow Wheel D. Secured permanently, at about its center of length, on the othereud of the axletree is a lever, E.- The radius of arm 6 of lever E, which extends in a downward direction from the axle-tree, is preferably a little greater than the radius of arm d,secured to the other end of said axle. Theangle of theradius of arm 0 is from ten to twenty de-v grees higher than arm d. The position of arm 6 of lever E is such that the whole lever forms a sort of obtuse angle whose vertex is its fulcrumal point.'

Pivoted to the extremity of arm 6 is a pitman, F, having its upper surface from its 0pposite end to about its center of length serrated or provided with cogs to form a rack, f, which is engaged by a segmental pinion, f. This pinion f is concentric to the fulcrumal center of lever G, with which it is preferably made integrant.

Lever G is fulcrumed in the quadrantshaped frame H,wl;ich is permanently secured to the rear portion of the longer plow-beam, just about at that point where it commences to bend down to form the standard of the plow. This quadrant has its segmental edge notched or serrated and engaged by a springactuated dog consisting of a bolt, the end ofwhich, engaging the notches in the edge of the quadrant, passes through a guide extending laterally from lever G. The upper end of bolt 9 is pivoted to the vertex of the lever g, which is of such shape that when it is desired to withdraw bolt 9 from the notches of the quadrant-shaped frame it can be conveniently grasped with the handle of lever G. When lever G is oscillated by releasing lever 9, its shape is such that it will automatically return to its normal position, forcing bolt g into a notch in the edge of the quadrantframe and maintaining the lever G in the position desired.

In order to keep the pitman F in engagement with pinion f, I journal in and between the plow-beam and a strap, h, extending from the vertical contour of the quadrant-frame, a friction-roller, i. The strap h, besides furnishing a bearing for the frictional roller 12, continues up past the periphery of the same and affords a guide to prevent the pitman and lever G from working out of engagement with pinion f laterally.

In operation my improved gang-plows operate as follows, viz: The driver follows the plows within easy reach of lever G. When he desires to increase the depth of the furrows, he pushes the lever forward, thus turning the axle-tree so that the arms 01 and e oscillate upward. As these arms radiate from the axle-tree at different angles, the land and furrow wheelsjournaled on the studs or spindles extending from their ends automatically adjust themselves to the draft of the plows. If the driver desires to decrease the depth of the furrows, he oscillates lever G backward, thus swinging arms d and e downward. As these arms approach a perpendicular position the peripheries of the land and furrow wheels seek the same horizontal plane and the plows will be lifted from the soil.

If desired, the length of arms d and e of the axle-tree may be the same, but arranged at a different angle. This construction would accomplish the object of my invention, although not quite as well as the other way.

If desired, instead of the pitman being provided with a rack, and instead of a pinion being made integrant with lever G and concentric with its fulcrum, the lever might extend beyond its fulcrumal point and have the pitman pivoted to its lower extremity, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. If this last-described arrangement were ad opted,the quadrant-frame and its attachments might be moved forward a suitable distance by sh ortening the pitman, and then a seat be placed between and supported above the beams, from which lever G might be easily reached and operated.

Other changes might be made in the shape and curvature of the arms 01 and 6 than those described; but all such changes which go to accomplish by one and the same motion the regulating of the depth of the plows and the adjusting of the land and furrow wheels I claim as coming within the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a wheel gang-plow, with theplows B, having their beams extending forward parallel to each other, ot'the adjustable bearings 0, having elongated bolt-holes therein, the oscillatory axletree journaled in the same, arms d and 6, extending from the ends of the axle-tree,' which have spindles extending from their extremities on which the wheels are journaled, and means, as set forth, for oscillating said axle-tree and arms (Z and 6 thereof.

2. The combination, with plows B, having beams extending forward parallel to each other, of the axle-tree D, arm d,lever E, having arm 0, pitman F, lever G, quadrant-frame, and suitable means for entering notches in said quadrant-frame for holding lever G in any desired position.

3. The combination, with plows B, having their beams extending forward parallel to each other, of axle-tree D, arm at, lever E, having arm 6, pitman F, having a portion of its upper edge serrated to form rack f, quadrantframe, lever G, pinion f, concentric to the fulcrum of lever G, engaging said rackf, and means for entering notches in said quadrant frame, whereby said lever G is maintained in any desired position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM JEROME BROWNE. 

